Poll Shows Menendez Losing Support After Dominican Hooker Allegations

Posted by Jim Hoft on Thursday, February 21, 2013, 8:28 AM

A new poll shows that the allegations of sexual misconduct with Dominican hookers have taken a toll on Senator Menendez’s popularity.

The main source in the Bob Menendez underage hooker scandal sent the FBI the names of four hookers who confirmed they had attended sex parties with Salmon Melgen and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) in the Dominican Republic. Further allegations include a charge that he accepted unreported plane flights, advocated on Capitol Hill on behalf of a business, and intervened in a Medicare billing inquiry.

The allegations of misconduct swirling around Sen. Robert Menendez – which he has vehemently denied – appear to have eroded the New Jersey Democrat’s approval rating, according to a survey released Thursday.

The Quinnipiac University poll indicated that 41% of New Jersey voters disapproved of the job Menendez is doing as senator, compared to 36% who approve. That’s a 15-point drop from a poll taken toward the end of January, when 51% approved of Menendez’s job performance. Quinnipiac said it’s his lowest approval rating since August 2011.

Menendez has vigorously defended himself against claims by unidentified accusers who he says are “trying to defame” him with accusations that he improperly used his office. The allegations include a charge that he accepted unreported plane flights, advocated on Capitol Hill on behalf of a business, and intervened in a Medicare billing inquiry.

Last month, Menendez paid approximately $58,500 to a friend and campaign donor for several flights he took in 2010, chalking up the lapse in payment to his busy schedule.

He has denied wrongdoing relating to a number of the claims, including in an exclusive television interview with CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash. “The bottom line is all those smears are absolutely false,” he said, describing claims that he had partied with prostitutes “unsubstantiated.”

Of course, CNN left the underage prostitution allegations out of their report.